Stepladder



Sept. 5, 1950 H. G. MASON 2,521,386

STEPLADDER Filed June 6, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E I. g l E I E El A? if O- I? "'T V"-'.

I N VEN TOR. i arry'flawn, BY

H. G. MASON STEPLADDER Sept. 5, 1950 Filed June 6, 1949 2. Sheets-Sheet. 2

; UNITED. STATES Patented Sept. 1950 I STEPLADDER I Harry George-Mason. Rock Stream, N. Y Application June 6, 1949,- ScrialNo.- 97, 14l

This invention relates to step'ladders, and more particularly to that type of stepladder which is provided with rear props for the-purpose of supporting the ladder in position for use.

In the conventional type of propped stepladder, the props are pivoted so as to swing toward andfrom the side rails of the ladder and are generally of a rigid construction with braces extending between the props to maintain the same in spread relation.

As is "well known, many accidents occur from the use of ladders due to their instability and this is caused by the fact that unless the weight of the user is properly distributed on thesteps,

the ladder may be easily tiltedsidewise, thereby thereby increasing the stability of the same and permitting the weight of the user to be to a considerable extent without danger of tilting the ladder sidewise. In using the ladder, it is found that in certain location's it is "not possible to utilize the props with the lower ends spread beyond the width between the side rails, because of the confined space in which the ladder must be used. The present censtruction also provides means for supporting the props in a spread condition in which'the distance between the props will be substantially the same as that between the front rails of the ladder. Conse quently, the present ladder may be used in any location that the conventional ladder is used, but also in unconfined spaces the props may be spread laterally to an extent to greatly increase the stability of the ladder andthereby eliminate many of the dangers resulting from the use of the conventional type of structure.

An object, therefore, of the present inventidn, is to provide a ladder in which the rear Tpr'ops may occupy twodifierent'pos'itions. In one posie tion, the props are supported so "that the spread between the lower ends thereof is substantially the same as the width between the front rails -of the ladder and in the second position, the props.

Another/objcct'of-the present invention is to rigid-1y hold the props in either adjusted position.

I ,A further object of the invention is to so dimension the parts of the :prop structure that when the maps are adjusted to either position, they cannot slip outqof such position, thereby causing collapse of the ladder. 3

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds, it being understood that there is here illustrated only a "preferred embodiment of the invention and'that changes maybe made-in minor details so long as they do not depart from thespirit of the "invention as defined infthe appended claims. Referring to the drawings forming part hereof and in which similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the views,

Fig. 1 is aside elevation ing this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the ladder with the props of the ladder constitutbeing s'hown as "spread their greatest degree 'in' solid lines, and to a more limited degree in the chain lines; 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view with portions broken away to disclose the structure more clearly;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l- 5 of Fig. 2 illustrating the props in position when they are spread "to their greatest degree; Y

Fig. 5 isa View similar to Fig. 4 with the props supported in the confined position; v

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary medial sectional view through the .upper end of the prop assembly, and

7 is a perspective view of the prop carrying stop member. I

Referring to thedrawings-more in detail, there is indicated a stepladder comprising spaced front rails in carrying steps H and "a conventional platform 92 at the upper end of the rails H1. The rails H1 are connected to the platform l2 lay-means of an angle bracket 13, although any suitable connection maybe used. The construction so far described is thatof conventional ladclers appearing on the market today- At the rear end of the angle brackets !3 there is provided a frame M'wh-ich is pivoted to the rear end :of the bracket ia as at 15, so that the.

frame M swings about an axis parallel "to the rear of the side rails 10, thus enabling the frame M to swing toward and away from these side rails. The frame is as'here illustrated constitutesa truncated structure comprising spaced side bars l6.joined at their upper ends by-spaced cross members .17 and. at their :lower ends by spaced cross members 18. The lower cross members l8 carry stops l9 and 20 in the form of blocks or other suitable abutments, it being noted that the block I9 is carried by one of the cross members [8 adjacent one side bar l8 and that the block 2!] is carried by the other cross member 88 adjacent the other side bar It, and that these blocks l9 and 20 are of considerably less length than their respective, cross members Hi.

It will also be evident from Fig. 7 that the opposed faces of the blocks 19 and 20 are inclined downwardly as at 2! and 22 in order to properly abut against the props when in engagement therewith The upper cross bars ll are provided with aligned apertures 23 and 24 for the reception of a bolt 25 which passes through the same and 1 is secured therein by a nut or suitable fastening 26. Pivoted to the bolt 25 at their upper ends are props 2? and 28 which lie in the space between the upper ross bars H and the lower cross bars l8 so as to be free to swing laterally of the ladder within the confines of the frame M which limits the amount of spread of the lower ends of the props.

As shown in Fig. 4, the prop 2! is adjacent the rearmost cross bar 11, and the prop 28 is adjacent the foremost cross bar I1, and it will be apparent that the props 21 and 23 may be swung on the. bolt 25 to occupy two different positions.

Again referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the props 27 and 28 are in engagement with the side bars l6 of the frame M, and that they move between the blocks l9 and 2B and the lower cross bars 58. are not restrained from spreading movement by the stop blocks 9 and 20.

Referring now to Fig. 5, in which the position of the props 27 and 28 is shown reversed, it will be seen that the prop 21 is in engagement with the block 29, and that the prop 28 is in engagement with the block l9. In this position the spread of the props with reference to each other is limited by the blocks so that the props are spread apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the side rails It of the front assembly, whereas in the position as shown. in

Fig. 4 and as clearly seen from Fig. 2, the propswhen occupying the positions shown, extend to a considerable extent laterally of the width of the front assembly of the ladder. Consequently, it will be seen that the props are rigidly held in either of their adjusted positions, and that the ladder when used in narrow areas may have the props arranged substantially as those of the conventional ladder, but when in unconfined areas, may be rendered much more stable by spreading the props laterally of the front assembly, so as to extend considerably beyond the lateral dimensions of the front assembly.

It is important to note that the combined depth of the props 2! and 28 is substantially the same as the space between the cross members i! and I8. By so dimensioning the props with reference to this space, it will be seen that when the props are in the position shown in Fig. 5, they cannot move transversely f the cross members I! and [B a sufiicient extent to permit the props to accidentally swing past each other and of course when the props are in the position as shown in Fig. 4, they are confined between the blocks is and 2d and the lower cross members is so that transverse movement of the props relative t the frame member I4 is prevented. Therefore, provision is made to assure proper In this position, the props 21 and 28 4 positioning of the props and to guard against accidental swinging of the props, which could readily result in the collapse of the ladder.

Briefly, the present invention may be said to reside in a prop structure wherein the props may be spread laterally to extend beyond the lateral extent of the front assembly to afford greater stability, or they may be confined to substantially the same lateral extent of the front assembly for use in confined areas. This is accomplished merely by swinging the props 2? and 28 on the bolt 25 so that they occupy reversed positions. As seen in Fig 2, the prop 21 is at the left hand side of the figure, and the prop 28 at the right hand side thereof When the props 21 and 28 are reversed, they engage the stop blocks is and 20, and are thereby confined in their spreading movement so as to lie within the lateral confines of the front assembly The frame member M is limited in its movement relative to the front assembly in by means of the conventional collapsible strut 29, and usual platform to may be supported thereby and held in proper position by the folding strut 3|.

While the invention describes and discloses a particular stop structure consisting of the frame It and its associated stop blocks 59 and 20, it is to be understood that this is not by way of limitation, and that any suitable structure may be employed which permits the props to be swung to the two positions as hereinbefore described for the purpose of insuring greater safety in the use of the stepladders of this type.

I claim:

1. In a stepladder, a front assembly comprismg side rails carrying steps therebetween and a rear assembly pivotally secured to said front assembly for movement toward and away from the front assembly, said rear assembly including reversible props pivoted to said rear assembly to spread transversely of the front assembly, means on said rear assembly for limiting the spreading movement of said props to a width substantially the same as the width of the front assembly when the props are in a first direction of spread, and other means for holding said props when spread in a reverse direction to a width greater than the width of the front as sembly.

2. In a stepladder, a front assembly comprising side rails carrying steps therebetween and a rear assembly pivotally secured to the front assembly for movement toward and away from the front assembly, said rear assembly including reversible props pivoted at their upper ends to said rear assembly and having their lower ends free to spread transversely of the front assembly, stop means on said rear assembly for holding the props with their lower ends spread apart a distance substantially that of the width of the front assembly when the props are in a first direction of spread and other stop means on said rear assembly for holding the props when spread apart in a reverse direction a substantially greater distance than the width of the front assembly.

3. In a stepladder, a front assembly comprising side rails carrying steps therebetween, a rear assembly pivoted thereto atits upper end to provide a free lower end swingable toward and away ends to said frame and having their lower ends free to spread apart in a direction transversely of the front assemblyysaid props lying in the space between the cross members .and being limited in their spreading movement by said frame when in one direction of spread, a pair of stops on the lower cross members, each stop of the pair being located in the path of movement of its respective prop when the direction of spread is reversed to decrease the spread between the props. v

4. In a stepladder, a front assembly comprising side rails carrying steps therebetween, a rear assembly pivoted thereto at its upper end to provide free lower ends swingable toward and away from the front assembly, said rear assembly comprising a frame composed of upper and lower spaced cross bars and connecting side bars, a pair of reversible props pivoted at their upper ends to said frame so as to swing in parallel planes and having their lower ends free to spread apart in a direction transversely of the frontassembly, said props'lying in the space between the cross members and being limited in their spreadingmovement by said frame when in one direction of spread, and a pair of stops on said lower cross members, each stop lying in the path of movement of its respective prop and engageable by said props to decrease the spreading movement thereof when the direction of spread is reversed.

5. In a stepladder, a front assembly comprising side rails carrying steps therebetween, a rear assembly pivoted thereto at its upper end to provide a free lower end swingable toward and away from the front assembly, said rear assembly comprising a frame composed of upper and lower spaced cross bars and connecting side bars, a pair of reversible props pivoted at their upper ends to said frame with one prop adjacent the front bars of the spaced bars and the other adjacent the rear bars thereof and having their lower ends free to spread apart in a direction transversely of the front assembly, said props lying in the space between the cross members and bein limited in their spreading movement by said frame when in one direction of spread, and stops on said lower cross members engageable by said props to limit the spreading movement thereof, one of saidstop members being carried on the front lower cross member to engage the prop adjacent thereto and the other of the said stops being carried by the rearlower cross member and engaging its adjacent prop when the direction of spread is reversed.

6. In a stepladder a front assembly comprising side rails carrying steps therebetween, a rear assembly pivoted at its upper end to said front assembly on an axis parallel to the rear faces of said rails so that the lower ends thereof may swing toward and away from the front assembly, said rear assembly including frame carrying spaced stops thereon, a pair of props pivoted to said frame so that the lower ends thereof may spread transversely of the front assembly in either of two directions, said props lying between said stops and being reversible relative to each other, said stops being so located on the frame that when the props are in one direction of spread, they are limited in their spreading movement by said stops, but in the reversed direction of spread they may spread beyond the stops and into engagement with said frame.

HARRY GEORGE MASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 369,491 Allan Sept. 6, 1887 962,881 Bentley June 28, 1910 1,087,286 Franklin Feb. 17, 1914 

